Two Main Parameters. One Amazing Result.

Butterfly: Next-Generation Metering

If It Ain't Broke...

aNorm is a revolution in streaming processing in several ways.
It keeps dynamics processing at a minimum by normalizing your
signal intelligently first

Only if normalization by itself isn't enough to hit the Loudness
and LRA targets, aNorm applies dynamic processing.

Further, aNorm adapts intelligently, using just the right tools
if dynamic processing is needed. It will never just apply heavy
compressing as default.

In other words, aNorm hits your pre-defined loudness targets
without squashing the audio.

Two Main Parameters

Loudness is a complex field, but aNorm allows
production and transmission to be tied transparently together using
two basic parameters: Loudness Target and Loudness Range
Target.

Before the output, the most discreet and
audio-friendly limiter in the pro industry rounds off the program,
making it ready for linear delivery (or any type of data reduction
required) for a certain platform.

Once production and transmission are aligned with all
targets, production criteria can be refined, thereby automatically
making aNorm do less, and maybe eventually only smoothen out
transitions.

aNorm Loudness Settings

Main Parameter 1: Loudness Target

Simply set the target level for your Program Loudness here. Typically -23 or -24 LUFS/LKFS for HD TV and -16 LUFS/LKFS for mobile platforms.

Main Parameter 2: LRA Target Max

Use this slider to set how high a Loudness Range (LRA) is tolerated. The lower it's set, the more dynamic loudness processing will be applied on top of auto-normalization.

Input Content

Use this setting to tell aNorm if the incoming content has already been normalized. When in doubt, set it to 'Not Norm.'

Reset

Use this button to reset the loudness processing at any time. When you click it, a new 'round' of loudness processing begins. Ideally, aNorm should be reset during the transition from one program to the next.

Normalized Level

If your input signal is normalized, use this slider to tell aNorm the already-normalized level.

Butterfly Meter Scale

Use this setting to choose between metering on an 'absolute' or a 'relative' scale.

aNorm Gain Meter

This horizontal meter indicates how much gain (dB) aNorm adds or subtracts during loudness correction.

UpCon

Indicates upconversion from mono or stereo to 5.1.

DMix

Indicates downmix from 5.1 to stereo or mono.

aNorm

Shows if loudness is being increased or decreased during processing.

aNorm Demo Videos

In these demos you can hear and see how aNorm handles different
types of centent, tasks and delivery platforms.

When looking at the Butterfly Meter, please notice that it shows
pre and post loudness processing. The pre-processed signal is on
the left side and the processed on the right.

Keep an eye on the little blue triangles on either side. They
indicate Program Loudness, but bear in mind that most broadcast
standards leave a tolerance of +/- 1 LU and that the idea is not to
be on-target at all times - it is to hit the target overall, while
preserving dynamics and precious audio quality.

At the end of each video, you will see a switch to our Loudness
Radar Meter to verify that aNorm hits the target as expected.

To avoid violating copyright laws, no more than a total of 40
seconds are used for each of the demos.

Pre-Normalized Music

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Dire Straits'
Brothers in Arms is from an era where wide dynamics were allowed to
exist in music. Therefore, since the target
LRA is at 14 LU and it has already been
normalized, almost no processing is needed. Had you
chosen a smaller LRA, aNorm would start processing dynamics.

First, you hear 20 seconds of the
first verse followed by 10 seconds of guitar and finally the last
10 seconds.

At the end, we switch to the
Loudness Radar Meter showing the exact measuring result and then
back to the Butterfly Meter where you can see the Program Loudness
(blue triangle, right side) hitting the target very
precisely.

Non-Normalized Speech (Fast Processing)

Radio announcement on D-Day, June 6th, 1944. aNorm
has been set to do fast normalization of the non-normalized
speech.

aNorm does not compress, since the speech is already
very precise with small LRA.

In the demo, you hear the first 20 seconds of the
announcement, and then the last 20 seconds.

At the end, we switch to the Loudness Radar Meter
showing the exact measuring result and then back to the Butterfly
Meter where you can see the Program Loudness (blue triangle, right
side) hitting the target very precisely.

Non-Normalized Drama

In this example, we use a short clip from Game of
Thrones, the 'Wedding' episode. The original program has a wide LRA
at 19.5 LU, and the LRA target has been set to 10 LU.

First, you hear 20 seconds of music and ambience,
then a switch for 10 seconds of speech and then 10 seconds of
fighting.

At the end, we switch to the Loudness Radar Meter
showing the exact measuring result and then back to the Butterfly
Meter where you can see the Program Loudness (blue triangle, right
side) hitting the target very precisely.

On-the-Fly Normalization for Mobile

In this demo, you can see and hear on-the-fly
normalization and processing of a BBC Radio 4 speech program. It is
being converted for Mobile and PodCast simultaneously (Loudness
Target at -16 LUFS). Notice the fine and inaudible limiters, which
are important when targeting a limited headroom.

First, you hear 20 seconds of male voice, and then 20
seconds of female voice from the same radio show.

At the end, we switch to the Loudness Radar Meter
showing the exact measuring result and then back to the Butterfly
Meter where you can see the Program Loudness (blue triangle, right
side) hitting the target very precisely.

Review

Resolutionby Rob James

In action the process is surprisingly transparent. I tried it with a variety of material, some quite challenging and I would have been happy to transmit everything I heard. The new Butterfly meter gives an intuitive overview of the audio pre and post loudness normalisation. aNorm running on a DB6 is a well executed answer to a problem that is or will be faced by most broadcasters.

You Also Get...

aNorm processing and the Butterfly Meter are part of the
LoudnessWizard II 'combined' algorithm. But on top of
revolutionary, adaptive loudness processing and never-before-seen
pre/post processing metering, you also get the great tools from the
original LoudnessWizard, including state-of-the-art up and
downconversion and True-Peak Limiting.

UpConversion

Automatic, realtime 5.1 upconversion that continuously monitors
the format of the incoming audio. If the signal falls back from a
true 5.1 to stereo, it seamlessly cross-fades into a convincing 5.1
surround up-conversion without adding any interruptions or
artifacts.

Detection does not require metadata or GPIs to function correctly,
and the processing delay is only 2.8 ms (less than 1/10th frame).
So, you don't need extra delays to maintain A/V sync.

DownConversion

Depending on your delivery platform, you may need to downmix.
This takes place at an overload-proof 48 bit resolution.
Transparent transcoding keeps the output perfectly conditioned for
mobile TV, iPod or IPTV.

You can even transcode a feature film with a wide loudness range
automatically on the fly at an impeccable audio quality.

True-Peak Limiting

Normalizing loudness based on 'perceived loudness' can lead to
peaks that might overload. To cope with this, True-Peak metering
and limiting is your last line of defence.

Features

2nd Generation Loudness Processor

Built from ground up to hit loudness targets without sacrificing
audio quality.

Adaptive Normalization. Adaptive Processing.

aNorm adapts to the program seamlessly in several ways.

Independent LRA Setting

Dynamic processing is automatically invoked if a certain LRA is
exceeded.

All Programs and Platforms Handled

Normalized and not-normalized content. HD, SD and Mobile.

Sweet Transitions

Soften program transitions, even for non-normalized content.

Program Interruptions Handled

Break for commercials and resume processing afterwards.

Butterfly Meter

New pre/post loudness meter showing how and why audio is
processed.

Compliant with All Major Broadcast Standards

ITU BS.1770-3, ATSC A/85, EBU R128, OP-59, Reg #354,TR-B32 and
more.

Loudness Correction: 1st Generation vs 2nd Generation

aNorm represents a giant leap in loudness processing. The way it
adapts to the incoming content on several levels is nothing short
of a breakthrough in loudness. A path towards hitting loudness
targets without an audible penalty has arisen, while also taking a
big step closer to a world of smooth transitions between programs
of very diverse nature.

Available for DB6

aNorm and the Butterfly Meter are available in the optional
LoudnessWizard II license for our DB6 Broadcast Audio Processor
unit.

Keeping You Up To Date

We have been listened to by those actively setting broadcast
standards - we've even donated our technology to many of the same
international bodies that impact your broadcast
work.

Legislation on loudness in television is constantly
evolving. However, regardless of your location and no matter
which TC Electronic Loudness units you use, we will always help you
remain compliant with the latest revision of the broadcast standard
that impacts your work.

To Normalize or Not To Normalize?

The goal for any audio-conscious broadcaster is to
loudness-normalize programs before transmission. In our published
research, we have shown how transparent normalization is
the audio-friendly, low cost concept that prevents
blurring of foreground and background elements, works across
genres, works across platforms and works across codecs - now and in
the future.

Only with proper attention to normalization, rather than
to extensive transmission or consumer processing, the spirit and
the revolutionary improvements from EBU R128, TR-B32, ATSC A/85
etc. can reliably make it through to the listener.

Tell aNorm When to Hold Back Pre-normalization of all content may not be achievable
from the first day of a station's transition to loudness. An
important parameter for aNorm is therefore to know whether or not a
program has already been normalized. The setting of this parameter
should ideally change based on the status of the content, and there
are several ways you can make that happen:

Metadata in the SDI Stream

GPI Switching

Control via Ethernet

Regardless, the long-term aim is obvious: move towards
file-based pre-normalization where possible, in combination with
live broadcast based on loudness meters. With these principles
checked, aNorm can be left mostly in Normalized mode, now primarily
taking care of excessive true-peak or loudness excursions based on
delivery platform.

Broadcast & Production Sales Team

Loudness Website

Keeping track of the multitude of issues around
loudness can be a challenge. That's why we've created a one-stop
dedicated loudness website where you'll find critical information
on the most important issues.

The site is an answer to the highly relevant
question:"What Is Loudness, and Why Is It Important?"